Evaluation of knowledge and attitudes regarding antibiotic use among individuals aged 18 and over in the city center of Edirne

In the global fight against infectious diseases, the rapid rise of antibacterial resistance caused by the inappropriate use of antibiotics has become a major public health concern. This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge and attitudes of adults residing in the city of Edirne regarding antibiotic use. A structured questionnaire including sociodemographic characteristics, antibiotic related behaviors, and the Knowledge and Attitude Scale Toward Rational Use of Antibiotics was administered. The mean knowledge score of the participants was 47.80 ± 8.79, and the mean attitude score was 68.47 ± 10.34, indicating moderate to high levels of knowledge and attitude. A moderate positive correlation between two scores showed that as knowledge increased, attitudes improved. Among participants, 60.76% reported using antibiotics at least once within past year, and 52.91% had previously heard of antibiotic resistance. Healthcare professionals were identified as the main sources of information. While awareness of human related causes of resistance was satisfactory, knowledge regarding environmental, agricultural, and livestock related factors remained limited. Younger age, civil service employment, higher education, and absence of chronic disease were associated with higher knowledge scores; however, regression analysis identified education level as the strongest predictor. Positive attitudes were related to being female, having higher education and income. In conclusion, although participants demonstrated generally adequate knowledge and attitudes toward rational antibiotic use, inappropriate use and limited awareness of One Health concept persist. Family physicians, as accessible and trusted healthcare providers, play a key role in disseminating accurate information and promoting rational antibiotic use within the community. Keywords: rational use of antibiotics, antibiotic resistance, One Health